Written by Beaux Yenchik, Manager of Media and Communications
SUN VALLEY, Idaho—What was originally designed as a reward for club champions around the Idaho Golf Association turned into a few hours each day of cold, wet golf. Most players layered themselves with lots of clothing. Cart covers were dusted off, while a few unfortunate souls bared the rain coming in at a 45-degree downpour. Yet, the field endured the weather for the 2022 Senior Tournament of Champions. Well, almost the entire field.
Nestled between the mountain ranges surrounding the Sun Valley area is Elkhorn Golf Club. As a true test for almost every golfer who steps foot onto its grounds, the tournament venue welcomed the more senior competitors in the IGA. Men and women competed in four divisions: Senior Men, Super-Senior Men, Senior Women and Super-Senior Women. Each coveted the silver hardware that awaited the tournament’s winners. However, only four could claim first place and bragging rights over all those who showed up: Scott Masingill (Senior Men), Fran Matthias (Super-Senior Men), Kris Fenwick (Senior Women) and Marilyn Celano (Super-Senior Women).
Masingill, who had trailed first-round leader Bret Rupert by two shots, put together an impressive final round 71 to finish at a four-under-par 140—winning by four over Rupert. Having stayed steady and preventing Mother Nature from rattling him too much, the G.O.A.T. of men’s golf in the state of Idaho capped off what had already been an impressive year of golf with his Senior Amateur win and Scotch Pines Club Championship title. Always gracious in victory and humble in defeat, Masingill looks to keep his momentum going heading into next season.
Fran Matthias hits an iron off the tee on the short par-4 10th.
For the Super-Senior Men, the theme for the 2022 season has been the competition between Fran Matthias and Mike Rawls—each having had the chance to claim victory over the other this season. Yet, Matthias, the RedHawk Club Champion, kept the winning streak alive as he pulled away from Rawls and his other fellow competitors by shooting 71-67 = 138 (-6) this week. As the lone man under par, Matthias is certainly making a name for himself here in the IGA. Hoping to stay in good form, he will have to keep it up as Russ Calkins, Kip Reeder, Rawls and the bunch stay hot on his heels.
In the Senior Women’s division, Fenwick again showed why she is a force to be reckoned with every season. The Lamey Cup participant and 2019 & 2021 TOC winner played her game as she defended her title against the likes of Stacey Camara, Jen Davis, and others. With the weather being a constant factor throughout the week, having a game that puts her in the middle of the fairway and a chance to hit the green gives a big advantage to her, especially with what she and the rest of the field had to deal with. Going 72-78 = 150 (+6), Fenwick managed to hold on to her lead as many struggled to regain momentum following Thursday’s lightning delay.
Kris Fenwick pumps her fist after making a big birdie putt on No. 9 green
Celano, the Super-Senior Women Champion, needed every hole of this event to pull out her victory. Going into the final hole tied with runner-up Brenda Pickett, Celano won with a double bogey on the last. Both ladies battled it out to the end. Knowing it would come down to a single shot, Pickett, who had left her approach shot in the front rough, jokingly asked if I wanted to hit her shot for her. Celano, who had just watched Pickett lip-out her double-bogey putt from nearly two feet, tapped her putt in confidently and secured herself the win by going 80-80 = 160 (+16).
After two long days of golf in cooler, wet conditions and two lightning delays in the middle of it all, players left Elkhorn with smiles and a deeper appreciation for a great, successful year of golf.
Until next year, the IGA thanks all those who have participated in its events and invite you all to do so again next year!
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